By Eric Thomas
More and more people have been shopping in downtown Jacksonville as empty buildings are coming alive with businesses covering a wide selection of interests. This past Christmas shopping season brought interested holiday shoppers to enjoy not only the shopping, but also the extras provided by Jacksonville Main Street.
Starting on December 7, 2024, shoppers could not only find some great deals but also vote on window decorations and enjoy a ride in a horse-drawn carriage. The winning window decorations were 1st place – Market House Antiques, located at 224 E. State St.; 2nd place – Lincoln Land Community College, at 32 N. Central Park Plz.; and 3rd place – The Boujee Barn Boutique, 52 N. Central Park Plz. Congratulations to all the winners.
Adding to the atmosphere that was present downtown was a horse-drawn carriage available for rides around the square. Big Horse Power Farm from McLean provided this extra special treat for the shoppers.
The owners of Big Horse are Jeff and Becky Hanlin and family. They have been providing horse and carriage rides in Jacksonville since 2021.
The Hanlins started Big Horse Power Farm in 2013. They have six Grey Percherons horses ranging from age 3-22. “Crissy” and “Luna” are the two horses that usually cover Jacksonville rides. Before making a public appearance like this, the girls put on “glitter hooves,” a signature for their horses. “I started doing blue glitter years ago for parades and rodeos,” commented Becky Hanlin. “Now it is required and expected for almost every event.”
They have several events each year that are the same. Those in attendance, both children and adults, know how to look for the girls’ fashion statement.
In addition to carriage rides, they provide wagon rides and horses for funeral possessions, weddings, quinceañera/parties, parades, rodeo entrances, and movies and draft horse shows. “We have even used the horse and carriage for a gender reveal in 2023,” Hanlin added.
The gender reveal was considered the most memorable of all their events over the years. They added lights to the undercarriage and wheels and turned on the appropriate color at the end of the countdown. “We’ve also had quite a few marriage proposals,” she concluded.
They have participated in several horse-drawn funerals for many personal acquaintances and even a family member.
In addition to the various events in which the horses are involved, the Hanlins exercise the horses by riding them. They use Western and English riding methods.
